Department gets to call shots, but parents pay bills

I WONDER if the majority of our parents with children at school fully realise the devastating impact there will be on functioning schools if the short-sighted Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Bill is passed.

I implore all parents to acquaint themselves with the dire consequences of the proposed changes to the bill.

Please read and react to all the articles on the Bela bill.

I refer to recent editorial articles by Prof Jonathan Jansen (“New bill not the way to go”, November 16) and Prof George Devenish (“Bill damages democratic process”, November 21) in particular.

Besides the fact that the rights of citizens will be seriously infringed should the bill be passed, there is the matter of basic finance.

Now, parents who are committed to ensuring that their children have the best education they can afford are paying thousands of rand each year to keep schools running and to ensure that every class has a teacher.

The Department of Basic Education pays the salaries for fewer than half the staff at the school where I teach and that is all!

No payment for additional staff, grounds and buildings, water and electricity, stationery, cleaning, etc.

In fact, the number of departmental teaching posts at our school was also cut this year despite the fact that our enrolment has increased.

More teachers’ salaries for the SGB to absorb!

Our fees are most carefully controlled by our highly qualified and dedicated governing body who have no other agenda than the welfare of the pupils in their care. Expenditure is audited externally. How could the government envisage curbing the decision-making rights of SGBs of functioning schools and dictate how these schools should be staffed, etc when it funds a minimal percentage of the schools’ budgets?

By all means assist schools not fortunate enough to have the expertise to run their schools effectively, but do not make a blanket decision for all schools.

Leave functioning schools alone.

Concerned teacher, Port Elizabeth